Modu, Household Registration Police Station
The service hall was filled with an endless stream of people. Many sat waiting with photocopies of their documents, listening to the electronic number-calling machine repeatedly announcing digits.
Behind the service counter, long queues formed at several windows. The police officers' fingers moved quickly over their keyboards, occasionally looking up to check files, and sometimes explaining things patiently.
After taking a photo next door, Lin Fan and Longyue stepped into the service hall with the photos in hand.
Seeing the bustling crowd moving back and forth, Longyue stood rooted to the spot, feeling confused.
"So many people. Let's grab a number first."
With the ease born of long practice, Lin Fan walked to the self-service ticketing machine on the side and took a number. He then led Longyue to an empty seat to wait.
"Demon Sovereign, is it really safe to just come here with a photo?"
Seeing the various photocopied documents in the hands of the surrounding people, Longyue couldn't help but feel worried and quietly leaned in to ask in Lin Fan's ear.
Based on the films she had watched recently, for an 'illegal immigrant' like her to get an identity card, one usually had to spend a large sum of money to hire someone to handle it.
She had never seen someone so boldly bring themselves to an official office like Lin Fan did.
"Don't worry, it's not a problem."
Lin Fan's expression was calm and confident, assured that he had a plan, without a trace of panic
Seeing this, Longyue felt a little more settled. She placed her hands on her knees and sat waiting quietly.
Since the Demon Sovereign said so, then there should be nothing to worry about. But what exactly was his plan?
It seemed quite troublesome to forge her household registration information and identity card…
Not long after, as Longyue waited with curiosity and anxiety, the announcement in the service hall repeatedly called out a number:
"Number 520, please proceed to window 2."
"Number 520… It's the Empress's turn."
Longyue looked at the number in her hand and turned to Lin Fan, feeling a little nervous.
It was clearly just applying for an identity card, yet at this moment, she felt more nervous than when confronting an Immortal Emperor-level demon beast on the Demon Immortal Continent…
Lin Fan gestured for Longyue to go forward, while he casually followed behind her.
When Longyue sat down in front of window 2, the female police officer on duty asked as usual:
"May I know your purpose here?"
"I-… I'm here to apply for an identity card," Longyue replied cautiously.
"Okay, please provide your original identity card and photocopy, as well as the one-inch photo."
"Uh…"
Longyue's face showed confusion and she looked back at Lin Fan behind her.
She didn't have any original identity card or photocopy at all…
Lin Fan smiled slightly and slowly stepped forward.
"Sir, it's not your turn. Please wait behind the line."
The female officer was just about to speak to stop him but was interrupted by Lin Fan's raised hand.
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed, his dark pupils instantly crystallizing into a blood-red. The entire service hall was instantly enveloped by a dark-red barrier. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Everyone became motionless, and the noisy service hall abruptly fell into an eerie silence.
When the female police officer at window 2 met Lin Fan's red pupils, her entire self became serene and vacant, her eyes losing their luster.
"Demon Sovereign, you…! How could you use precious spiritual energy here?!"
Longyue's expression showed her shock. She immediately understood that Lin Fan had activated his demonic power to cover the entire service hall with a barrier and controlled the female officer at window 2.
In this world, which lacked the slightest bit of heaven and earth spiritual qi, the remaining spiritual energy they possessed was extremely precious; for every bit used, there would be a bit less left.
Using precious demonic power here was simply too extravagant!
"It's fine, it's just a little bit of spiritual energy."
"A little bit of spiritual energy? Even a little bit of spiritual energy is extremely precious!"
"Don't you know the current situation? If you use spiritual energy for something like this, what if you run out of spiritual energy? How can we get back in the future?"
Compared to Lin Fan's calmness, Longyue was practically burning with anxiety.
Her spiritual energy was almost depleted. Her hope of returning home largely depended on Lin Fan. If by chance both of them ran out of spiritual energy, she didn't know what hope there was of finding a way back.
"Anyway, the remaining spiritual energy in my body is not enough to tear through the void and return. It doesn't matter if there's more or less."
"Right now, helping you, Empress, to obtain an identity in this world is more important. This is a necessary expenditure of spiritual energy."
"Only with an identity can you work and earn money, and pay the rent on time, right? Just consider this an investment from this sovereign."
Lin Fan smiled slightly at Longyue, his expression relaxed and free, without the slightest feeling of distress over using the precious spiritual energy.
Even if he tried hard to seal the spiritual energy within his body to prevent it from leaking, as time passed, the spiritual energy within his body still dissipated little by little.
Just like him, with a 'high concentration of spiritual energy,' suddenly coming to a 'low concentration' world, his own spiritual energy would uncontrollably seep into the world with low concentration.
Since the remaining spiritual energy wasn't enough to return, if he didn't use it when needed, it would just be a waste when it completely disappeared anyway.
Longyue stared blankly at Lin Fan who stood beside her, a hundred emotions rushing through her heart.
The Demon Sovereign actually, for the sake of helping her get an identity card, didn't hesitate to use his precious spiritual energy…
"Help her apply for an identity card. All necessary information must be filled in exactly as this sovereign instructs," Lin Fan commanded the female officer at window 2.
"Yes…"
The female officer answered mechanically, her hands quickly typing on the keyboard to input the information.
"May I know your name?"
"Lin Longyue."
"What is your household registration address?"
"Modu City…"
"…"
After a series of information input, Longyue finally completed the process of applying for an identity card.
"The processing fee is 20 yuan. The identity card will be delivered within ten working days."
"Good. After you regain consciousness, forget everything that just happened. You never saw us; you just handled a routine replacement of an expired identity card service."
After paying the 20 yuan processing fee, Lin Fan gave a hypnotic suggestion to the female officer and then retracted the barrier.
The barrier vanished, and the service hall returned to its noisy and busy state.
"Eh, what happened to me just now?"
After the female officer at window 2 returned to normal, she had a blank look.
She felt something had just happened, but she couldn't recall anything. It seemed she had helped someone replace an expired identity card…?
"Thank you."
Longyue expressed her thanks to the female officer, then got up to leave with Lin Fan.
"You're welcome…"
The female officer politely replied reflexively, but she muttered inwardly.
I remember this lady just sat down, how is she already done…
Can I handle people's business even while spacing out?
Then it seems my professional skills are becoming more outstanding…!
The female officer smiled, didn't think further, and proceeded to call the next number using the broadcast.
After leaving the police station, Longyue quickly walked to Lin Fan's side, gently cleared her throat, and expressed her gratitude with a slight blush on her face:
"Thank you…"
Lin Fan glanced at her, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
"No need to be polite. I did it for myself too."
"All will be fine as long as the Empress can pay the rent on time every month from now on."
Longyue: "…"
"I will pay! This Empress will definitely pay you on time! Honestly! Stop emphasizing that constantly!"
Longyue's face flushed with embarrassment as she yelled with spoiled dissatisfaction.
Annoying Demon Sovereign, making it sound like she was the type of person who would default on rent and not pay!
She was the Empress of the Supreme Holy Palace, how could she possibly do such a thing!
———-